The government have made a new law called the Coronavirus Law.

It has changed some things to help the country and services cope whilst Coronavirus is widespread

Read more → “Changes to the Care Act during Coronavirus”

We’re all in this together – let’s keep working together

 

Blog by Gary Bourlet, self advocate and member of the LDE team

 

 

We need to take inspiration from Formula 1 racing manufacturers who are coming together during these difficult times and making ventilators for our hospitals.

 

 

We need to take inspiration from supermarkets as they are joining up as one, not just trying to get the most business, but making sure there’s food for everyone in the stores together.

 

 

It’s great to see self-advocacy organisations, families, carers and provider organisations following these leads to work together to provide services together for the sake of people with learning disabilities and/or autism.

 

 

These different groups all have their own strengths and a different viewpoint, so by joining up in these hard times it could be really powerful.

 

Nobody has had to deal with these types of international issues before and it is a chance for groups to get even better at co-working and learning from each other as they all struggle to deal with the crisis.

 

 

The different groups are often all fighting for similar things but can still be competitive. But this is no time for competition. This is time for collaboration. It’s great to see this is happening.

 

Communication is so important – making a digital radio station, joining together to improve social media networking, making sure everyone has the technology to be able to take part in video sharing etc.

 

 

That’s why we have developed our Resource Hub. This will help keep people with learning disabilities and/or autism connected with their families, friends, carers and providers during these hard times.

 

Please spread the word to everyone who works in the field of people with learning disabilities and/or autism, their families, carers and providers that we are all in this together and so we need to keep working together and carry on helping each other stay strong.

Frequently Asked Questions on Corona virus guidance and work- regular updates

The NHS England Learning Disability and Autism programme team are sharing an update every Friday

Read more → “Regular updates from NHS England”

 

 

 

There are extra measures for a group of people whose physical health conditions mean they are at the greatest risk from Coronavirus.

The guidance can be found here. There is an easy read version of the guidance as well as long information.

Some of the group of people who are extra vulnerable  will be people with a learning disability, autism or both so it is important people and their supporters know about it.

Read more → “Coronavirus and the Extremely Vulnerable”

 

 

By Christine Towers, Director at Together Matters

In the course of their everyday life, most people who are ‘feeling their age’ talk to their friends, family or work colleagues about their experience of getting older: their aches and pains, forgetfulness and tiredness. They may also share their joys: perhaps feeling more contented or less rushed.

Yet many people with learning disabilities miss out on these conversations because they are less likely to have a network of friends or have had a working life, both of which can provide this much needed peer-support. Also, people who organise support are sometimes more focused on a person’s learning disability rather than the more general course of their life.

Read more → “Let’s Talk about Growing Older”

 

 

 

Speakup and Dan Goodley of Sheffield University want to share his research called  ‘Living Life to the Fullest’.

This exciting research project worked in partnership with disabled children and young people labelled with life-limiting or life-threatening impairments and their allies. The Living Life to the Fullest project aimed to explore the lives, hopes, desires and contributions of disabled children and young people.

Read more → “Living Life to the Fullest”

Families sharing ideas and what they have done to plan for what might happen next or emergencies whilst Coronavirus is widespread

2pm 27th March

We are hosting an on line meeting to help families connect whilst we all work out how to deal with current responses to coronavirus.

Read more → “Planning for emergencies and staying strong – families on line meeting”

The government have started a new law called the Coronavirus bill

It will change a lot of things to help get the country through whilst Coronavirus is widespread

Read more → “The Coronavirus Bill”

 

By Scott Watkin, LDE Rep Body Member

What is happening with this virus is meaning changes for all of us and many of us are scared or unsure of the future.

For some of us though it is harder or more difficult to cope with this. I am worried disabled people and their supporters are getting forgotten in the plans or on TV and radio.

I think that front line support workers and what they do is much more important than I hear people saying.

Read more → “Doing what it takes to make the best of a bad situation”

We know that people are looking for information that is easy to understand on the virus and wanting to share ideas or resources

To help connect people, ideas and information we have set up 3 web pages with information, easy read information and ways people are connecting

You can find them all on the Keeping in touch and informed pages here

Read more → “Information on the Coronavirus”